In a game that was close from start to finish, the Jaguars squeaked past the Green Wave 53-52 in double overtime, the latest of several thrilling matchups between the Gastonia rivals in recent years.

The lead changed hands 14 times and featured eight ties in regulation with five lead changes and three ties in the overtime periods.

Both teams managed only a four-point separation from the other and each time the advantages were quickly erased.

“We expected this when we came down here because they’re the defending (Big South) champions and (coach Kevin Gurganus) had them well prepared,” said Ashbrook coach Juan Smith. “We came out and played well. Some things went their way and some went our way, and then at the end, it’s just bad that there had to be a loser.”

After it was all said and done, Forestview (10-4, 3-1 Big South) remained one game behind league-leading Crest (10-2, 4-0), a 92-32 winner over Hunter Huss Tuesday night.

“We made some adjustments in the second half that I thought was huge,” Gurganus said. “I can draw anything up on the board, and even if we haven’t practiced it, they execute it. I really think little things won the basketball game.”

Tied at 24 beginning the third quarter, Forestview fell behind twice but rallied two times for leads and remained knotted with Ashbrook entering the fourth quarter.

Once again, the Jaguars trailed toward the end of regulation before Smith hit a free throw with 39.6 seconds remaining to tie the contest at 42, sending it into the first of two overtimes.

Ashbrook senior guard Alexis Wallace, who had a team-high 21 points, seemed poised to take over the game for the Green Wave in the first overtime, scoring all five of her squad’s points.

Still, it was tied 47-47 with the winner yet to be decided at the start of the second extra period.

Forestview went ahead by three points early in the second overtime, but the Green Wave fought back.

Junior guard Logan Carter hit a 3-pointer with 1:11 left to put Ashbrook on top 52-50.

“We ran a few things in overtime that we hadn’t practiced with the personnel in the game and they executed it to get us some big baskets,” Gurganus said. “We picked up some big rebounds there in the last overtime. In a game like that, that’s what it comes down to.”

The Jaguars scored the final three points of the game for the victory when Carter’s (14 points) desperation shot at the buzzer missed the mark.

“We don’t feel like this is that big of a big blow,” Smith said, whose team dropped to 11-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big South. “We’ll see them again. There’s no need feeling bad about anything we did. It could have gone either way.”

Ashbrook steps out of conference Friday against East Gaston. Forestview travels to Hunter Huss.